Control apparatus.



Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR ATTORNEY O. A. COLBY.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-2|, 1914.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W 'dd a I lluilllml d fid n o KlL 2 ATTORNEY To all whom it mag concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORA A. COLBY, OF WILKINSBO'RG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ooiv rnon ArrAnA'rus.

. Patented Nov. 13,1917.

Application filed March 21,1914. Serial No. 826,375.

Be it known that l, ORA A. COLBY, a-cltizen of the United States, and a resident of lVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to control apparatus and it has special reference to liquid rheostats.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective means for governing the operation of devices of the above-indicated class, and particularly, to provide controllable means for definitely fixing the height of the electrolyte contained within the rheostat tank.

More specifically, the object of my invention is to provide a liquid rheostat embodying a valve member provided with a plurality of vertically spaced openings through which the electrolyte may flow, and to provide means for controlling said openings in a predetermined sequence.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a device constructed in accordance with my invention, a portion of the apparatus being broken away for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 1 are, respectively,

a plan view and a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a modified form of my invention, the section being taken also on the line IVIV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view,'in elevation, of a portion of a slightly modified valve adapted for use in connection with the rheostat shown in Figs. 3 and a. Fig. 6 is a plan view of another modified form of my invention. Fig. 7 is a View, in elevation of the valve shown in Fig. 6, andFigs. S and 9 are, respectively, developments of the valve shown in Fig. 7, and of a slightly modified type of valve.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the'drawings, a liquid rheostat 1 comprises a contain ing tank 2 having a bottom opening 3, a hollow stationary valve member 4 communicating with said opening 3 and projecting upwardly into the tank 2, and an operating 'mechanism 5 for controlling the operation of the rheostat.

The tank 1, as shown, embodies a plurality of compartments 8, 9 and 10, each of which contains a set of cotiperating electrodes The stationary member 1 is triangular in form and is provided With a plurality of sets of vertically spaced openings 15, 16, 17 and 18, which communicate with the several adjacent compartments for the purpose of fixing the level of the electrolyte within the tank and for disposing of the excess thereof which is carried away through the hollow member at and discharge opening 3. 'A- plurality of pivotally mounted members or valves 20, 21, 22 and'23 cotiperate with each side of the triangularhollowmemher 4, and are adaptedto severally open or close the'respective openings 15, 16, 17 and 18 thereof.

Centrally disposed -Within the hollow member 4 is the operating mechanism 5 which embodies a plurality of operating rods 25and 26 which are concentricallv related. The lower end of the inner rod 25 is provided with a member 27 having a plurality of outwardly projecting arms 28 which are respectively connected to lugs or clips 29 on the adjacent pivotally mounted members 20 by means of links 30.

The rod 26 is slidablymount'ed within a guide member 32 and is provided with fixed collars 33 and 34. Between the collars 33 and 3 1 are a plurality of members 86, 37 and 38 of similar structure tothe member 27 hereinbefore described, butwhich loosely engage the rod 26 and are adapted for relainstance, as anelectrically controlled pneumatic device, or the like. 7 I,

Assuming the parts-of the apparatus to occupy the positions shown in Figsfl and 2 and the tank 2 to be filled with electrolyte to the level of the upper end of the hollow valve member at, the operation of the apparatus is as follows: II" it is desired to quickly discharge the electrolyte, the operating rod 25 is first raised, thereby causing the several movable members 20 which nor ally close the lowest openings 15 to swing inwardly. Thus, the electrolyte is discharged through-the openings- 15 and the bottom tank opening 3. In orderto increase the rapidity of the discharge operation, the operating rod l zfillltty bg raised, thereby raising the members 23, 22 and 21 in the order named.v This action will be evident from the following explanation: In the illustrated closed position of the valves, the several springs are under. compression. Consequently, when the rod 26 is raised,- the. eX- panding spring a1 tends tohold the sliding member 38 in oontact witn the fixedjcollar 3-1, whereby the relatively increased externalpressure of the liquid upon the valves 23 opens them, Thereupon the spring pressure against the sliding member 3? is relieved and the valves are opened. Finally, stop member engages the sliding member 36 andthe opening of the valves 21 is thus effected. However, ordinarily this action will not be necessary as the size of the openings 15 is chosen to effect the discharge of the electrolyte at the desired rate. p I I Assuming all of the'ports 15,16, and 18 to be ,open, and electrolyte to be flow-ring throughthe rheostat from inlet e52, the rheostati'sfilled with electroyteas follows The operating rod 25 is first forced downwardly, thereby effecting the closure of the movable members 20, which cause the inflowing electrolyte torise within the tank 2 to a -level corresponding to the openings 16 which are located slightly above the lower ends of the electrodes. 'I'h1 is, the electric circuit is completed and thelevel of the electrolyte is main,- tained at the height of the overflow; openings 16 until further operationoi the operating mechanism 5. In order to raisethe level of the electrolyte, the operating rodz2-6 isanoved downwardlya sutficient amount to partially compress the springs 4:0 and 41 and cause the movable members 21 to close the openings l6. Further movement of the operatingrod 26 in adownward direction causes the movable members 22 and 23 to close the overflow openings 17 and 18 in succe sion, wherebyqthe electrolyte level may be fixed at corresponding hei 'hts. or may be raised by steps tothe height of the upper end of the vhollowniember at.- a

By reason of, the arrangement and ,location of parts of the operating mechanism which serves to actuate themovable mem; bers 21-, 22and 23, these members are closed in a predetermined sequence ,with a relatively short movement of the operating rod 26,,while, permitting a considerable range of adjustment of the several movable members 21, 22 and 28 I Reference may now be hadv to 3 and 4 in which a tank 50 having aplurality ofsets of electrodes 51 disposed therein, is provided with an adjustable valve device 52 for fixing the level of the electrolyte. One side 53 of the tank 50 is provided witlnan enlarged portion 5%, and a stationary member or partition 55 is fastened to the side 53 of the tank for providing a, clia1nber 56 which constitutes the overflow or discharge passage, The member s provided with. a pluralityoi openings 57,

58 and 59 which are spaced the one above the other. Cooperating with, the station ary member 55 is a movable member 60 which is adapted for relative verticalmovementwithrespr ct to the stationary member 55 and. is provided wit-ha plurality ofopenings 62, 63, and 6% to succesaively register with the openings 57, 58 v and 59 of themovable member to provide overflow outlets at different heights, I i If theparts of apparatus occupy the positions shown in Figs. 3 and {l and electrolyte is admitted intothe tank through an inlet port 65, the electrolyte merely flows through the tank, being dischar ed through the registering; openings 57 and 622 and thc discharge chamber56. If, however, the movable member 60 is raised slightly, the lowest opening is ClOIGCl, and thenent higher opening 58 is opened by registering with the opening 63. T,l';18 6l6Ct1fQlyt3 then fills the tank to a height corresponding to the registered openings 58 and 68, where the level is maintained. urther movement ot the member tit) maintains theopening 57 closedand effects the "closure of the open ing 5S, .while the openings 59 and 6a are caused to register to permit-of the overflow ofeleetrolyte when a level corresponding to that oi the said registering openings is reached, 111 this form of my invention only a single overflow o-pening is uncovered at a time. while in, Fig; 5.1 have showna device in whioh all of thepwr-flow outlets are normally open, and are closedsnocessively. Referring now. to Figs. 6 and 7, a. containing tank 2, similar .to that set forth in'Figs. 1 and :2, is provided with acentrally disposed .regulatablc valve device which is tubular in form and comprises a stationary ontertubular member 71 having a plurality of sets of vertically spaced open ings TQ -B and 74. with which an inner tubular member 75 coiiperatosr The inner member '75 is rotatable with respect to the outer me1nberfl'1and is provided with a nliirality-of sets of spaced openings 76, 77 :and 78 which are adapted to register the open ings '72, 73 and 74 successively to provide overflow ou lets for determining the height of the electrolyte-within the tank In Fig. 8, a development of a-portion of the relatively movable valve members 71 and 75 18 shown for the purpose of more clearly setting forth the relation of parts.

In Fig. 9, the openings 72, 73 and 74 are adapted to be closed successively by the movement of cooperating member 75*- which tubular member, communicating with said opening and pro ecting upwardly into said tank and having a plurality of vertically spaced apertures therein, of plural controllable mechanical means for successively closing said apertures.

2. The combination with a liquid-containing tank, a stationary member associated therewith having a plurality of vertically disposed openings, of plural movable mechanical means adapted to severally cooperate with said stationary member for opening and closing said apertures in a predeter mined sequence.

3. The combination with a liquid-containing tank having a centrally disposed bottom opening. and a tubular member communicating with said opening and projecting upwardly into said tank and having vertically disposed sets of cooperating apertures, of a plurality of relatively movable mechanical means for concurrently closing the apertures comprising the respective sets.

4L. The combination with a liquid-containing tank, a stationary member associated therewith having a plurality of vertically disposed openings, of a plurality of movable members severally adapted to control the openings in said stationary member, and mechanical means, independent of the liquid level for successively actuating said movable members.

The combination with a liquid-containing tank, a stationary member associated therewith having a plurality of vertically disposed openings, of a plurality of pivotally mounted members adapted to close said openings, and mechanical means dependent upon extraneous conditions for actuating said members in a predetermined sequence.

6. The combination with a liquid-containing tank having a bottom opening therein, and a tubular member associated with said opening and'projecting into said tank and having a plurality of vertically-spaced openings, of a plurality of relatively movable means disposed wlthin said tubular member for successively closing said openings.

7. The combination with a liquid-containing tank having a bottom opening therein,

and a. hollow member associated with said opening and projecting into said tank and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings, of a plurality of movable members disposedv within said hollow member and severallyadapted to cooperate with said member to close said openings, and means disposed within said hollow member for actu- "ating-said movable members in a predetermined sequence.

8. The combmation with a liquid-containing tank having a bottom opening therein,

and a hollow member associated with said opening and pro ecting into said tank and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings, of a plurality of movable members re spectively adapted to close the openings in said stationary member, means for actuating a portion of said movable members to close their corresponding openings successively, and independent means for actuating one of said movable members.

9. The combination with a liquid-contain ing tank having a bottom opening therein, and a hollow member associated with said opening and projecting into said tank and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings, of a plurality of movable members for closing the respective openings in said stationary member, means for actuating the lowest movable member, and independent means for successively actuating the other movable members.

10. The combination with a liquid-containing tank having a-plurality of compartments and a bottom opening, and a cent ally disposed hollow member communicating with said bottom opening and projecting upwardly into said tank and having a plurality of sets of vertically disposed openings, of means for concurrently closing the correspondingly located openings.

11. The combination with a liquid-containing tank having a plurality of compartments and a bottom opening, and a centrally disposed hollow member communicating with said bottom opening and projecting upwardly into said tank and having a plurality of sets of vertically disposed openings, of movable means cooperating with said hollow member for concurrently closing the corments and a central bottom opening, and a tubular member communicating with said opening and pro ecting upwardly in the middle ofsaid tank and having a plurality of vertically disposed sets of apertures that respectively communicate with the several compartments, of plural means associated with said tubular memberfor controlling the opening andclosure of said apertures.

13. The combination with a liquidcontaining multi-compartment tank having a centrally disposed bottom opening, of a tubular member communicating with said openingrand having a plurality of sets of apertures that respectively communicate With the several compartments, and means for concurrently closing the apertures comprising an set. e

14. The combination With a liquid-con- Copies of this patent may be obtained for taining; multi-c0mpartment tank having a centrally disposed bottom opening, or a tubular member communlcatlng With said opening and having a plurality of sets of apers tures that respectively communicate With the 1914. i A it ORA A; GQLBY.

Vitnesses G. AATBQRG, B. B. HINES;

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

